European private equity giant EQT has announced a partnership with Sir Ben Ainslie’s SailGP team, Emirates GBR, ahead of this weekend’s British leg of the series.
The Swedish global investment firm, which manages £250bn in assets, has agreed to become Emirates GBR’s official private markets partner until the end of the decade.
EQT’s branding will appear on the F50 boats from Saturday at the team’s home SailGP event in Portsmouth, marking the start of the commercial arrangement.
Peter Beske Nielsen, head of global wealth solutions at EQT, said: “We believe that an ever-larger share of value creation in the global economy is happening in private markets, and individual investors want access to that opportunity.”
Beske Nielsen added: “As we continue to broaden EQT’s investor base, building brand awareness of our firm is a strategic priority.”
The deal represents the latest commercial boost to SailGP, which has attracted significant investment interest from major corporations and high-profile individuals across the globe.
Celebrities including Kylian Mbappe, Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman have invested alongside major private equity firms such as Ares and MSP Sports Capital, while sponsorship activity continues to grow across multiple sectors.
Beske Nielsen added: “SailGP — also known as ‘F1 on water’ — offers a truly global platform that reaches audiences across our key markets. We are proud to partner with Emirates GBR, a team that shares EQT’s commitment to continuous improvement.”
Emirates GBR already holds partnerships with its eponymous airline, JP Morgan, Howden and Jumeirah, with SunGod and Telmont serving as official suppliers to the team.
Ainslie, chief executive and team principal of Emirates GBR SailGP Team, said: “We look forward to working together to create value both on and off the water as we compete on the global stage.”
The team is co-owned to varying degrees by Ainslie’s Athena Sports Group, commodities trader Chris Bake and private investment firm Misland Capital, and currently sits third in the overall standings.
The Australian team Bonds Flying Roos, owned by Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, leads the SailGP standings after seven race weekends, ahead of Los Gallos, owned by Atletico Madrid investors Quantum Pacific Group.
This weekend’s Portsmouth event kicks off the European leg of the season, which will be followed by races in Germany, Spain and Switzerland before a season finale double header in the United Arab Emirates.